Snap switch



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,842

D. D. GORDON SNAP SWITCH Filed March 2:5, 1927 Quim tllTE STATES 1,7,842 BTENT FFICE.l

DAVID ID. GORDON, GF CHICGO, LLATOS, ASSGNOR 'EO ECONOMY FUSE AliTI) MA'U- FACTURING COMPANY, OF GHZCAG, LLNOS, A CQEEOEATGN @E NEWT YDRK.

SNAP SWITCH.

Application :(iled March 53, 192'?.

rlhe present invention relates to snap switches.

The invention has been illustrated and will be described in connection with switches of relatively small size suchas may be mounted within the ordinary light socket. lt will beV undcrstooch howeifer, that the invention is not limited to electric light socket switches, but has a much broader application.

fin object of the present invention is to provide a snap switch which will break c ircuit connections with a rapid snap action whereby to minimize arcing.

A. further object is to provide a snap switch which will be cheap to manufacture and sturdy in construct-ion.

A vtuither object is to provide a switch which is well adapted to meet the needs ot commercial operation.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an electric light socket including a snap switch embodying the principles oit' the Apresent invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arows 2 2 oi Figure 1 g Figure 3 a sectional view taken along the plane indicated. by the arows 3-3 of Figure Q;

Figure 4iis a sectional view taken along the pline ii'idicated by the arrows elw/l ot FigureI 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Fign ure l but showing` the switch in conta ct brezil*- ing position, and

Figure (i is a view in perspective ot one oil the relatively stationary contacts forming part ot the illustrated embodiment the present invention.

rlhe numeral indicatesa shell or hous-` ing tor an insulating member 11 which supports certain switching mechanism, which will be described presently. Mounted on said insulating member 11 are the members 'l2-12 of electrical conducting material, which material in a preferred embodiment ot the present invention is resilient, as, 'for example, phosphor' bronze. Said members 12-12 are electrically connected to the plug receiving shell 13 and to the center Contact 14, which are adapted to contact with the two terminals ot an electric lamp or an electric plug.

Each ot the contact members 12 comprises a. flat portion 15 adapted toberiveted orotherwise secured to the insulating member 11. Integrally with and upstanding from' said fiat portion 15 is the portion 16 comprising a cantil ver spring. rlhe portions 16-16 ot the two members 12-12 are arranged in sul stantially the same plane and are adapted to be sprung apart with a cantilever action. Each. ol" said portions 16 is provided with a shoulder 17. Extending diametrically through the shell 10 and insulating member 11 istlie plunger 18 provided at its two eX- tremitieswith the linger grips 19-19, which may be made or" insulating material. Projecting from the plunger 18 is the stud 2O adapted to ride in a slot 21 in the insulating member 11. Vl`he extremities oi; said slot 21 limit the movement ot the plunger 18 diametrically et the shell 10 and insulating nember 11. i

rthe numerals 22-22 indicate bridging members having end portionsQS-QS disposed within. notches t-Qe.- inthe plunger 18. Said members 22H22 are electrically7 connected together either by contact wi th ongeA another or by Contact with a metallic portion oit the plunger 18. A spring 25 is con nected to the members 22H22 adjacent to their outer extremities, whereby to draw said extremities together. l/Vhen the parts are in contact making position, illustrated in `liligure L the outer extremities of said members EEZ-Q2 will contact with the portions 16-l6 ot the members 12-l2, whereby to torni an electrical connection between said members "l2-12. The members 22h22 will be held releasably in the position illustrated in liigure 2 by reason ot the reaction oi1 said members 2%422 against the portions lh-1G and against the notched, portions yoiE the plunger 18.

l/Vhen it is desired to move the members 22-22 out of bridging relationship with the portions ith-16 ot the members 12H12, the plunger will be moved to the left as the parts are viewed in Figures 2 and 3. This action will. spread the outer extremities ot the members 22-22 away from one another in opposi tion to the spring 25, bringing said outer extremities of the members .Q2-22 into engagement with the shoulders 17-17 of the cantilever portions 16-16 of the members 12. Continued movement toward the lei't oi the plunger 18 will spread the cantilever portions 16-16 apart, putting said cantilever portions under tension. After llt) . the act-ion of the spring 25.

said 4plunger 18 has been moved to a critical region, the tension of the port-ions 16-16 i against the extremities of the members 22-22 will cause said members to snap with a rapid movement away from the cantilever port-ions 25 in contact breaking position, the plunger 18 being held in its lett-hand position by reason of the action of said spring 25 which auses a reaction between the insulating member 11 and theA plunger 18, holding said plunger in its lett hand position.

Uien it is desired to again bring the members 22u22 into bridging relationship with the cantilever portions 16-16 of the members 12.-12the plunger 18 will be moved to the right as the parts are viewed in Figure 5. This action will result in the spreading ol the extremities ot the members 22-22 against TWhen the fulcrum axes of the members 22.-22 pass the line of action ot the spring 25, the parts will move with a snap action into the position shown in Figure 2, in which the cantilever portions 16-16 of the members 12 are bridged by the members 22-22.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a snap switch, in combination, a pair of contact members having portions resiliently held in predetermined positions, bridging means adapted to contact with said portions and electrically connect same together, means for operating said bridging means, and a spring tending to draw the extremities et said bridging means toward one another, said portions being provided with shoulders adapted to be engaged by said bridging means, said shoulders being shaped to permit the movenient of said bridging means past said shoulders with a snap action when said portions bearing said shoulders have been put under tension by said bridging means.

2. ln a snap switch, in combination, a pair of contact members having portions arranged in substantially the same plane, said portions being cantilever springs and having shoulders, electrical bridging means for said portions, and means lor moving said bridging means with a toggle action into engagement with `said shoulders, saidv shoulders being shaped to permit the snapping past said shoulders ol' said bridging means when said Contact members are putnnderptension by the toggle action oi said bridging;` means.

ln a snap switch, a pair of cantilever contact members, bridging means therefor comprising toggle members, means for moving said bridging means with a toggle action to seleetably position said bridging means in oront oit' electrical engagement with said contact members, said cantilever contact members being provide dwith portions adapted to be engaged by saidbridging members, whereby said bridging members may pnt said cantilever Contact members under tension and vwhereby said bridging members will be snapped ont el1 engagement with said Contact members with a rapid motion.

e. ln a snap switch, a pair of resilieiitly held contact members having bearing portions, bridging members adapted to electrically connect said bearing portions, said conn tact members having opposed portions adapted to be engaged by said bridging members, said opposed portions being disposed in angular relationship with said bearing portions. 5. ln switch mechanism, in combination, contact members, bridging means adapted to Contact with said contact members, a bia-sing spring adapted to hold said bridging means selectably on one side or the other et a fulcruni axis of said bridging means, means for positively moving said iulcrum axis relative to the lineot action of said spring, said contact members being resiliently held and having portions adapted to be engaged by said bridging means to spread said contact members apart and to snap said bridgingmeans out of contact with said contact members.

6. ln switching mechanism, in combination, a pair of contact members, bridging means therefor, an operating member haif'ing operative engagement with said bridging means, and a .spring for biasing said bridging means to either of two selectable positions, said contact members having abutment portions adapted to be engaged by said briflging means in its movement from one oi said selectable positions to the other of said selectable posit-ions to spread said Contact members apart to cause said bridging means to break contact with said contact members with a snap action.

Signed at Chicago, lllinois, this 18th day of March, 1927.

DAVID D. GORDON. 

